VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: July 7, 2020

PAKISTAN

PAKISTAN 'Uzair Baloch a spy, Baldia fire a terror incident': JIT reports reveal nexus of police, politicians and gangsters: DAWN

Uzair Jan Baloch, the alleged Lyari gang warfare kingpin, passed on secret information regarding Pakistan Army installations to the Iranian intelligence and was behind a large number of targeted killings and politically motivated murders of rival gangsters and civilians. These were among a host of revelations that came to light on Monday evening as the Sindh government made public the joint investigation team (JIT) reports of three high-profile cases — concerning Uzair Baloch, the Baldia factory fire incident and former chairman of the Fishermen Cooperative Society Nisar Morai — after much controversy and litigation in courts. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Ghani Seeks Regional Support for Peace: TOLO News

President Ashraf Ghani on Monday afternoon spoke at the opening of an international meeting on “strengthening regional consensus for peace," stressing the need for the support of neighboring and regional countries to participate in the reconciliation process in Afghanistan. Representatives of 19 countries and international organizations attended the virtual meeting that was held at the Presidential Palace. “We all are faced with the threat of terrorism, regional crime networks and extremism,” Ghani said. “The logic thought is that we stay together and Afghanistan as a roundabout of regional cooperation can play a good role in regional stability and prosperity.” Click here to read.... [3]

BANGLADESH

MoFA: Certain quarters trying to tarnish Bangladesh's image: Dhaka Tribune

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that certain quarters are purposefully harming the government against the backdrop of its recent success in curbing human trafficking. "There are reasons to believe that," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a clarification mentioning that law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh are already working to arrest traffickers involved in illegally sending people to Vietnam. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs learned from its Mission in Hanoi that 27 Bangladeshis who were lured by human traffickers to Vietnam are now temporarily staying at a hotel provided by the Vietnam authorities, reports UNB. Click here to read.... [4]

MYANMAR

Soldiers' court-martial Myanmar's latest sham, say Rohingya groups: Anadolu Agecny

Rohingya rights groups have denounced the recent court-martial of three Myanmar army officers as “a miscarriage of justice” and another of the country’s “sham attempts” to mislead the international community. The three officers were convicted on June 29 for the 2017 massacre of Rohingya people in the Gu Dar Pyin village of Rakhine state’s Buthidaung township, where five mass graves were previously uncovered. The UK-based Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO) rejected the ruling, saying the secrecy of the trial negates the essential requirement of transparency and impartiality. Click here to read.... [5]

NEPAL

Chinese ambassador making the rounds at a time of internal crisis invites much criticism: The Kathmandu Post

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi’s meetings with a number of government officials and political party leaders have drawn concerns from political analysts and former diplomats for coming at a time when Nepal’s internal politics is in disarray and political actors are increasingly attempting to gain the upper hand. Within the last week, Ambassador Hou has met with President Bidya Bhandari and senior Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, even as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli comes under increasing pressure to step down. Click here to read.... [6]

SRI LANKA

Security to remain heightened in places of worship, public places: Daily Mirror

Security will continue to be heightened in churches and places where public gather including in Kataragama, Kandy and other places of worship following advice by the intelligence, Police Spokesperson SSP Jaliya Senaratne told the Daily Mirror last evening. All police stations across the country have also been alerted to conduct special intelligence operations as well while if any church or other places of worship requests for more security, it will be provided. Click here to read.... [7]